The M3 is a manual. I did not buy the DCT (and from that i have read the DCT is not as spot on as the PDK) . My Honda is a manual too.

 

All I have to say about PDK is that it is here to stay and will soon trickle down to other less expensive cars too. The game is all about fuel efficency now and the manufacturers have to try and keep up. Of the techs out there that can save quite a bit of fuel this and DI to me is the best at the moment. Ha ha I would love to see what the op has to say about electric cars with their one speed.... Technically it is a manual transmission...

 

RDD. now thats funny

Sorry, I'm a bit tired today but what is PCS?

 

Love to throw my 25cents in here.

As for PDK itself. Very very smart move by Porsche...... not only do you still have the automatic operation to keep the current customer base available (ie. those that will never drive a manual like my wife).........and, a different "flavor" for the traditional manual driver.

For myself........If I had the choice on mine, I would have actually taken PDK, as my wife could drive/enjoy the car........and, personally I like that part removed to concentrate on pure road feel and driving. When I had the 360 with the F1, I was honestly in heaven (well other than reliablilty) when hitting the mountains and the twisty roads......with two hands on the wheel at all times. If my car was PDK, no doubt it would be "auto" on highway trips, but total manual mode in the mountains........ best of both worlds.

To-each-their-own........ I like them both...... but give a +1 for PDK.

 

I have two 6speed Pcars but my next one will be a 997.2TT PDK.

 

drive one more and actually use it before you make ignorant comments.. its actually a manual transmission, automatic is something completely different.. it does however have AUTO mode.

 

I hope your right, because I am tired of shifting as I find it overrated and the F1 style boxes are really the way to go IMO. They are proving to be faster on the track and are definately much more fun in the traffic we have to deal with here in the Northeast. It looks like the new PDK trans has really woke up the new TT from all I have read and seen in these video clips.

 

The PDK with launch control makes the less powerful by over 100 hp 997.2 TT faster than the ZR1 driven by normal humans ( ie not Jamie ) up thru the 1/4 mile. No tractive force loss between shifts and no boost lost without having to powershift a $140k car!

We are talking about a transmission that Porsche developed for their race cars intended originally for track use not some automatic slush box for luxury cars. The other thing not talked about ( which is why I like having a built auto) is being able to concentrate on throttle, brakes and steering especially when the car is trying to get away from you under power.

I like manual transmissions more than anything, and I can powershift the daylights out of them and enjoy rev matching as well. But its hard to stomach the loss of performance in relation to the dual clutch gearboxes. Originally one of the reason enthusiasts would pick a manual is because the significant difference there used to be in performance.

Up until recently when the Tiptronic car became the quickest 997.1 I could understand why an enthusiast would hate automatic transmissions. I personally love a built , and stalled auto with manual shifting...man does it shift hard and brutally!

 

"And let's not forget that PDK+SC is an extra $5.4k. People always rationalize not affording expensive options."

Wow...been out of town this weekend. Came back to this. Adias, love 95% of your posts...this one seems out of character. In this community who gives a crap about 5.4K? People drive these cars because they connect to an experience. For me, it is non-turbo, 2WD, coupe, manual. I drive a C2S because I love it...and couldn't justify the GT3. For someone else it is...fill in the blank.
Regarding main topic, anybody bashing the PDK is pretty much lame. Give it 20 years and 90% of sales will be PDK (or similar). All the high end lines (ferrari, lambo, etc.) have moved this way...we need to just realize the market is moving.
That being said...I am not moving to it. I have too much history and enjoyment with the manual (for the PDK police...let's say "operator clutched manual") to move to PDK or whatever emerges.

 

My comment re the option cost is a footnote in a long interchange. It does not apply to the typical Porsche buyer and forum member. It applies though to those who feel a urge to put down an order option often with the sole objective to justify their own choice. For many people the cost of the option is not trivial and its put down is a self-justification.

 

Obviously the OP does not like the PDK, but to make a blanket statement is just stupid. I was not looking for the PDK when I bought my car but my sales person who happens to be a good friend of mine said drive it, so I did. I was convinced that for my purpose it was a great option. I use my car as a DD.

The PDK does not take away from the sportness of the car one bit in my opinion. It actually allows me to concentrate on driving. There is a reason F1 uses the paddles. I would much prefer to get my down shifts done smoothly so that the car is settled when I enter a corner and the PDK makes me feel like a hero. I actually am one of those people that leaves the car and in D. My second move is to press the sport plus button that sharpens up the Suspension, and moves the shifts to redline. I can still shift when feel like it or let the car shift at redline. If this makes me a poseur, then so be it, but I don't need to make my daily commute a drain to be a slave to someone else preferences. I traded my audi TT in when I bought this car which was 6 speed and I have to admit it was a fun car but I doubt I'll own another Manuel again. This is just my preference but I certainly don't take anything away from the guys who get satisfaction from rowing there own gears and nailing a perfect heel toe down shift before their favorite corner. That's why choices are great.

Cheers
Matthew

 

Why do formula race cars have automatics? They are faster and offer the driver more options.

 

Autos Have torque Converters.. PDK, DCT, SMG use clutches..

Autos rob a lot of HP

The others dont..